On This Date: Kings Take 2-1 Series Lead Over Malone, Jazz
Apr 27, 2020, 10:39 AM | Updated: 10:39 am
(GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images)
(GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images)
18 years ago today, the Sacramento Kings defeated the Utah Jazz to take a 2-1 series lead in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs
All athletic events will be on pause for the foreseeable future, which is a tough pill to swallow for sports fans around the world.
While this may be a rough time for Sacramento Kings fans, we can look back on some good times while we wait for basketball to make its return.
April 27, 2002: Kings 90, Jazz 87
With the series tied at 1-1, the Sacramento Kings needed a big road win to put the Utah Jazz on the verge of elimination.
The Kings rode the performances of Mike Bibby (26 points), Peja Stojakovic (21 points) and Chris Webber (18 points) to a nail-biting 90-87 win over the Jazz at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. With the win, Sacramento took a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five opening round of the 2002 NBA Playoffs.
Trailing 85-82 with 1:19 left, Stojakovic went to the free-throw line to cut the deficit to 85-84. After a Utah turnover, Mike Bibby drew a foul and went on to drain both free-throws to put the Kings out in front 86-85 with 49 seconds remaining.
Utah couldn’t pick up a much needed basket, having to intentionally foul Stojakovic who would hit two more free-throws to extend the lead.
Doug Christie was also fouled, hitting one free-throw to give the Kings an 89-85 lead.
Karl Malone scored a lay-in with 10.2 seconds left, bringing the Jazz back to within two points. Christie would be intentionally fouled and sent to the line where he would go on to hit one of two free-throws, bringing the score to 90-87 with 8.5 seconds left.
Out of the timeout, Utah couldn’t connect on a three-pointer to send the game to overtime, giving Sacramento a 90-87 win in Game 3.
